Orthopedic chair



Oct. 20, 1953 w. J. CHRISTENSEN 2,655,982

ORTHOPEDIC CHAIR Filed July 5, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet l 2s 2s v E 347 f 27 T I 24 24 V 24 z4| ,0 v I I 1 l l2 1/ l2 l2 1/ l2 3rmentor:

. 1. CHRISTENSEN,

Oct. 20, 1953 w. J. CHRIISTENSEN 2,655,

ORTHOPEDIC CHAIR Filed July 5, 1949 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Enventor: WM. J. CHRISTENSEN,

GttornegS Patented Oct. 20, 1953 ORTHOPEDICCHAIR Christensen, Salt Lake City;Utah

Appfication my 1949;"SerialiNo'.1033152 Cl..l155- 30')- This invention rel-ates toequipm'entnfor sup-.- perting orthopedic patients =whose ,lowerailimbs are encased in I have found that-there-is a'highiincidence among-infants of what known-medically as congential dislocation of the hip, which; for-treat? ment, requires the application of a plaster cast'zto the legs, thighs, and trunk almost up to -thez arm pits.- This cast mustloe maintainedtinposition for-'approximately 'six to eightmonths in-ordertto insure-permanency or the. setting :operationrperformed on the-hip jomts of-the child. at an early age.

If a child isto lead anything. like-;a:normal life: during the period hf etreatment scme. supa porting. equipment is: required. Such equipment is preferably mobile; so :as to --1enable. easy handling of the youngster inthe .everydayltasks-about the home: and elsewl'iereav Accordingly; a principal objectxof thezinvention is to; provide a chair adapted to ..:comfnrtably; safely, and effectively: support :an. sorthopedic:patient whose; lower .limhsuand trunkiare encased inla cast.

An object. is ;to .pr,ovide V for adjustment, ,of. the seatingportion ofthe chair .to accommodate air, ferent positions; of:,the ;occupant;

Anobjectis to iprovide'fonready mobility ;of';the chair, whether occupied; or: unoccupied. 11

An; object. is to provide. lan-.;crthop,edic chairv of general. utility; for -young children: undergoing treatment;forqdislocation of theehi lp.

I ac omplish: the: aboveobjects ;byr;formin r sIiJIE -seatjmm fiQXibl-QQSHEPSJSO that: theseat structure simulates a humanilapr The straps; havev suficientpwidth and; are: so spaced as to provide; individnaLahammocke-like supports for eachthigh. Front-sand rearzistande ards provide anchorage: for; the ;.straps. n.-t. The anchorage may berand advantageously is :resilientl in character For: providing a mobile. chair :of general .utility fora child undergoing treatment:for =.congentia'l dislocation of the hip,,.;or ;fo1; ;a similar condition, I erect a chair. superstructureuponua relatively heavy ;-slab, base equipped witl1 .;:whee1s..-. Ihe wheels advantageously comprise a: pair-tor caster or swivel wheels at the front and a pairzof similar though fixed;,-wheelscat .:the: rear-ram this. way, convenientmobilityyis 1achieved with-..complete safety. The heavyq-platform ;base,.- providesrthe necessary v ballastvfonsbability. p

The chair superstructure: ,advantageo -lslyicom-v p ise fr nt andlbaek -standardsof pan l-formation, haying. ljfis ectiverwidths isuflicientwto am:

2 ply comprehend I and mount the spaced sling straps. Inuthis' wayadequate support is "pro vided for the childs' back, while'the front is well guarded by structure having requisite'breadth for grasping bythe-child in achieving a complete stability during all-phases'of use of the chair.

In the presently preferred embodimentof- 'the invention, :thefrontand-back panels-of the chair superstructure arestr'ongly held in position and reinforced:- by an intermediate and' interconnect inglrstructural portion of T-formati'on, providing a :raised floor immediately below the sling se'at. Such floor may be utilized" "for the 'placementof aireceptacle to facilitate toiletcare from time to time, or may :serve to receive toys or' other-articles.

A reinforcinguin 'of panel formation" projects forwardly from the front panel; centrally of-it's width, and-serves, together with the front panel, to support a tray useful in the fee'dingof the child and for play purposes.

The. complete unit constructed in this manner istcompact; strong; .stable, and easily :moved fromplace' to place about the'homeand-inthe streets outside: It affords comfortable and "effective support-for the occupant.

Further objects and features'oftheinvention become apparent from I the following detailed descriptionof a presently preferred "em bodimenta as illustrated in --'-the accompanying drawings.

In the drawings? FigLrl represents a perspective view f the orthopedic chair as: constructed for andoccupied by a child;

Figafl, aside elevation of the chair unoccupied:

Fig; 3, a top plan;-'

Fig; 4, "a rear elevation? Figi- 5, 'a front elevation;

Fig.6, a bottom' plany Figi q, a fragmentary vertical: section 'takeisfon theline T-'| of Fig.1), and'drawn toe somewhat enlarged scale, intermediate "structure being brOkenaw'ay-"fof convenience of illustration;

" Fig; '8, a fragmentary-rear elevation drawn-to an" enlarged scale and showing a preferred type of spring anchorage for the-sling straps; and

9, a vertical section-corresponding to Fig. :1, but takenon the line 9-9 of Fig. 8.

Referring to the drawings-the inver'i'tiye" cmbodiment illustrated is anorthopedic chairde signed-particularly for a child undergoing treatment for-a condition-such ascongential dislo' cationof the hip, wherein the-legs and thighs and 3 often the trunk are rigidly encased in a plaster cast.

As shown, the chair comprises a heavy slab or platform base It), advantageously made of wood planking. Such base I is provided with wheels to afford easy mobility for the chair. The front wheels II are of caster or swivel type, while those in the rear, designated I2, are fixed, thereby enabling easy steering by a person pushing the chair from place to place. The construction of the base [0 and of wheels H and i2 is heavy to provide a ballast effect.

A chair superstructure is erected upon and rigidly attached to the base it. Such superstructure includes front and back standards 53 and 14, respectively, rigidly interconnected by reinforcing floor structure l5 of T-formation. The standards i3 and it are preferably of'panel formation, being conveniently made of suitable lumber which is rigidly attached to the base Iii by means of fastening elements, such as screws or nails, and, desirably also, by gluing.

The floor structure it is also conveniently made of suitable lumber to provide a single joist i522 and fioor proper i'5a, these elements being likewise rigidly secured to the base it; and standards l3 and M.

In order to further reinforce the chair superstructure, a fin it rises from rigid attachment to the base ii! and projects forwardly from rigid 1 attachment to the front standard It, preferably centrally thereof. Such fin i6 is likewise conveniently made of suitable lumber, and is advantageously substantially coextensive in height with the front standard I3, so as to aid the latter in supporting a tray IT.

The back standard M is of greater height than .the front standard l3, and its upper portion is upholstered, as at 18, providing a comfortable back for the chair.

The seat of the chair is of flexible sling formation, provided by a pair of straps which are arranged side-by-side in mutually spaced relationship transversely of the chair. Such straps 29 have anchorage in the standards 33 and I4, and extend therebetween. They are preferably woven Web fabric of considerable width so as to provide comfortable, hammock-like support for the castencased thighs 21a of an occupant 2!, Fig. l,

The straps 2B are preferably adjustable in length, being for this purpose doubled and secured at their ends by respective buckles 22, Fig. v'7, of conventional, positive-hold type. As shown, the loop ends of the doubled straps pass through respective slots 23, appropriately formed in the standards 13 and I4, and are anchored over hanger rollers 24. In use, the doubled straps usually hang slack, as illustrated, to an extent determined by the particular position found most suitable for any given occupant of the chair.

In order to safely secure a child within the chair, a safety str'ap'ZE is provided. It is preferably of the same woven web fabric as the seat straps 2i}, and its ends advantageously pass through respective slots 23 appropriately formed through the back 18 of the chair. Such ends are adjustably connected by a buckle 21.

The occupant of the chair, such as the child 2 I, Fig. 1, sits astride the pair of straps 2d of the sling seat, with his legs projecting sidewardly, somewhat as illustrated. His cast-encased lower limbs are adequately and comfortably supported, though they hang freely. The tray I"! is positioned immediately in front of the seat, and, thus, is available for the serving of meals and for play. The raised floor beneath the seat is available for any use found suitable, for example, the placement of a toilet receptacle or the resting of articles within reach of the occupant in instances where the cast does not interfere with the necessary reaching movement.

The front panel 53 is preferably made narrower than the back panel l4, and the straps 29 preferably converge from wide spacing at the back to narrower spacing at the front, all to provide for greater comfort and firm seating of the occupant,

A handle 28 at the back of the rear standard l4 provides for convenient pushing of the chair from place to place on the wheels I i and i2.

Though the above construction has been found to be a particularly advantageous one in practice, the various structural members may be changed considerably where the chair is made from different materials, for example, metal, without sacrificing the essential inventive features. Such changes may be made by those skilled in the art by adhering to sound engineering principles and to the generic teachings hereof.

It is often desirable to provide resilient anchorage for thesling straps 28 in the front and back standards of the chair, so there will be a cushioning action additional to the flexibility inherent in the straps. An advantageous form of resilient anchorage is illustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. There, a spool type sheave or pulley 30, fixed on a shaft 3 i is mounted for rotation in bearings 32 secured to the forward face of the front standard i3 or to the rear face of the back standard M, as the case may be. The sheave 30 works within a slot 33 formed within the standard immediately below and preferably as an enlargement of the slot through which the strap passes.

Retained by the ccrersponding loop end 20a of the particular flexible sling strap 29 concerned is an elongate anchor rod 34, which extends through an elongate housing 35 and has its free end 36a projecting therefrom as a guide. The housing 35 is preferably made up of an elongate tube closed at opposite ends by screw caps 35a, and is fastened to the particular standard concerned as by means of mounting clips 38.

The anchor rod 3-3 has a shoulder 31 formed thereon adjacent its projecting guide end 34a, such shoulder being positioned within the housing 35 and serving as an abutment for the lower end of a coil spring 38. The upper end of spring 38 abuts against the upper cap 35a of the housing, so that the spring is compressed under weight resting upon the sling seat strap 2i], affording cushioning resiliency for such strap.

It is preferred that such resilient anchor assemblies be provided at both front and back of the chair for both seat straps.

While this invention is here illustrated and described with respect to a presently preferred specific form thereof, it should be understood that various changes may be made therein and various other forms may be constructed on the basis of the teachings hereof, by those skilled in the art, without departing from the protective scope of the following claims.

I claim:

1. An orthopedic chair, comprising a base provided with wheels; a chair superstructure erected on the base, said superstructure including mutually spaced front and back standards of panel formation, and reinforcing structure for said standards; and a flexible sling seat anchored in and extending between saidstandards, said sling seat comprising a pair of mutually spaced sling straps extending between said standards.

2. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein the sling straps hang slack between the standards.

3. Th combination recited in claim 2, wherein the sling straps have resilient anchorage in the standards.

4. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein the sling straps are adjustable in length.

5. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing structure comprises floor structure of T-formation rising from said base and rigidly interconnecting the standards.

6. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing structure includes a fin rising from said base and extending forwardly from the front standard, th said fin and front standard being substantially coextensive in height; and wherein a tray is mounted upon the fin and the front standard immediately in front of the chair seat.

'1. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein the reinforcing structure comprises floor structure of T-formation rising from said base and rigidly interconnecting the standards, and a fin rising from said base and extending forwardly from the front standard, the said fin and front standard being substantially coextensive in height; and wherein a tray is mounted upon the fin and the front standard immediately in front of the chair seat.

8. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein the base is of relatively heavy slab formation and has a pair of swivel wheels in front and a pair of fixed wheels at the rear to afford mobility for the patient.

9. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein a flexible, safety, waist strap passes through the back standard and has a length adjustment positioned at the rear of said back standard.

10. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein the front panel is narrower than the back panel, and th sling straps converge from wide spacing at the back panel to narrower spacing at the front panel.

11. An orthopedic chair, comprising front supporting structure, back supporting structure, and rigid structure rigidly interconnecting said front and back structures, said back structure including a chair back; and a chair seat of sling formation, said seat being made up of a pair of flexible straps arranged side-by-side in mutually spaced relationship, said straps having their front ends anchored in said front portion of the chair, their rear ends anchored in the said back portion of the chair, and their intermediate portions hanging freely between.

12. The combination recited in claim 11, wherein the spacing of said sling straps is narrower at the front of the chair than at the back.

13. The combination recited in claim 11, wherein the sling straps are adjustable in length.

14. The combination recited in claim 11, wherein the sling straps hang slack between their respective points of anchorage.

15. In an orthopedic chair, mutually spaced front and back standards; rigid structure rigidly interconnecting said front and back standards, and a chair seat of sling formation extending between and anchored in said standards, said chair seat comprising a pair of flexible straps extending from front to rear and arranged side by-side in mutually spaced relationship.

16. The combination recited in claim 15, wherein said flexible straps are resiliently anchored to said standards.

1'7. The combination recited in claim 16, wherein opposite ends of each strap are anchored by respective anchorage assemblies, each of which comprises a sheave over which the strap passes; an elongate anchor rod attached to the strap end; an elongate housing through which the anchor rod slidably extends; shoulder means on the rod adjacent the end thereof which is remote from said strap attachment; and a spring operably positioned Within said housing and about said anchor rod, between said shoulder means and that housing end which is adjacent said strap attachment.

18. The combination recited in claim 17, wherein the sheave is mounted for rotation within the wall thickness of its corresponding standard- 19. The combination recited in claim 1, wherein there are horizontally extending hangers secured to the respective standards intermediate their heights, and wherein the sling straps of the flexible sling seat make respective closed loops about corresponding sets of hangers and hang freely therebetween.

WILLIAM J. CHRISTENSEN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 891,141 Bryan June 16, 1908 2,201,630 Murtha May 21, 1940 2,291,373 Button July 28, 1942 2,324,421 Ovellette July 13, 1943 2,521,527 Marder Sept. 5, 1950 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 20,413 Germany June 8, 1882 67,039 Germany Feb. 6, 1893 179,898 Germany June 15, 1922 424,274 Germany Nov. 15, 1924 

